The long night ofDifferentiated autonomy. In the morning, after more than eight hours of night-time sessions in Montecitorio, the reform desired and launched by the Northern League minister Roberto Calderoli to grant more margins of maneuver to the regions that request them, it also overcomes the second parliamentary obstacle and becomes law. «A historic battle that is now reality», the League rejoices; «a split-Italy measure that penalizes the South», reply the opposition. Who now aim to continue the battle outside the halls of parliament, announcing a collection of signatures to obtain the referendum abrogative. On which, perhaps for the first time, the entire front against the government is united: from Pd and M5S to Avs and +Europa, but also Action and Italia viva.
MARATHON
The oratorical marathon of the minorities drags on throughout the night. Accompanied by the social story of the parliamentary battle: on the one hand the selfies of the Cinquestelle deputies with the tricolor handkerchiefs around their necks, on the other the shots of the honorable members of the Northern League with the text of the Calderoli bill signed by the entire group, and that of the minister himself smiling in Transatlantic. Night of tears and prayers, yes, but on both fronts. Because at 7.45 in the morning, although the numbers on the scoreboard Montecitorio certify that the majority holds and is large (in the end there were 172 in favor, 99 against, one abstention), in addition to the count of coffees, social posts and flags waved on both sides (tricolors for the Pd and M5S, regional and local banners for the Carroccio) we have to do that of the pieces.
Forza Italia is split – or at least it cracks – and loses along the way the yes of the three Calabrian deputies Francesco Cannizzaro, Giuseppe Mangialavori and Giovanni Arruzzolo, who desert the vote. He is the spearhead of the Italian southern wing, the one loyal to governor Roberto Occhiuto. Which in turn distances itself from a provision voted “in forced stages, rejecting possible further improvements”: a “divisive” rule which, argues the governor who is also one of the four national deputy secretaries of FI, “seemed like a flag of a single political force.” The three Italian “frontiers” are on the same line, who also ensure “full loyalty” to the leader Antonio Tajani: the text, they complain, «could have been explored and written better. Speeding up was a mistake.” Criticisms to which the deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini responds: «Be careful, reread the centre-right program», the federal secretary of the Northern League stings, convinced that «autonomy will be a great opportunity to improve the regions of the South: those who are capable, have nothing to be feared.”
All things considered, however, the discontent in the blue party, which has never felt the battle for Autonomy as its own, seems more widespread. Out of 45 FI deputies, there were 23 present in the Chamber, and they all voted in favor of the Calderoli bill. Eight were elected to the mission (including Tajani and Mangialavori), while 14 were missing. Stomach ache or not, the reform is law. Which paves the way for the game that is closest to Giorgia Meloni’s heart: the premiership awarded just 24 hours earlier by Palazzo Madama at first reading. At the centre, the opposition accuses of a “cynical exchange” between FdI and the League, with Autonomy on the other side of the scale. Accusations that the prime minister doesn’t care about: «A step forward to build a stronger and fairer Italy, overcome the differences that exist today between the different territories of the nation and guarantee the same levels of performance across the entire territory», she comments the passing of the law via social media Meloni. And from FdI they assure: «The South must trust the prime minister: the next implementing decrees will guarantee the essential levels of services. It is absurd to argue that a party with a strong national vocation wants to split Italy.”
THE ACCUSATION
And yet this is precisely the accusation that comes from all the oppositions. «FdI bows to the ancient secessionist dream of the League», thunders Elly Schlein: «They change the name to Shreds of Italy, or Brothers of half of Italy, since they are splitting it in two». The secretary of the Democratic Party, together with the other minorities, announces the collection of signatures for the repeal referendum. Which, in addition to 5S and Verdi-Left, also include Matteo Renzi and Carlo Calenda: «Ready to join the battle: the reform is of no use to the North and is bad for the South», comments the former prime minister. From Action, however, they warn: be careful not to give gifts to the majority, in the event of a referendum there is a quorum to be reached. The president of the CEI, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, is also critical: “They didn’t listen to us.” While the Vatican Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin, does not go too far: «Everything that helps to grow solidarity is good: differentiated autonomy – he warns – must be implemented in such a way as not to create further imbalances».
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© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
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